Hunting season may feel far off during the dog days of summer, but make no mistake: the hunters who find success in September are the ones preparing now. Whether it’s physical conditioning, fine-tuning your shooting skills, or mentally mapping your approach, summer is your preseason grind.
Here’s how to stay sharp and get hunt-ready, so you’re not just in the woods on opening day—you’re at your best.
🏃♂️ 1. Build Your Hunting Fitness
Long sits, hauling gear, dragging game—it’s all physically demanding. Early season hunting often happens in warm, muggy conditions, which can magnify fatigue. Now’s the time to prep your body.
✅ A. Cardio Conditioning
- Focus on endurance over speed: hiking, rucking with a loaded pack, or jogging 2–3 times per week.
- If you hunt hills or mountains, train on inclines to build leg strength and stamina.
✅ B. Core and Strength Training
- Build the core strength needed to climb into stands, draw your bow repeatedly, and stay steady under tension.
- Add functional movements like squats, lunges, and pull-ups.
🎯 Pro Tip: Practice carrying your actual hunting pack loaded as you would for a hunt. It’ll highlight weak spots in your setup and your body.
🏹 2. Hone Your Shooting Skills
🏹 A. Bowhunters: Practice Like You Hunt
- Shoot from elevated positions (tree stands or platforms).
- Practice in full hunting gear—bulky clothing, harness, gloves—to replicate real conditions.
- Mix in cold-shot drills: fire a single arrow at a small target first thing in the session, mimicking a first-shot scenario on a deer.
🔫 B. Firearm Hunters: Dial It In
- Zero rifles and check optics now to avoid scrambling in late August.
- Practice quick target acquisition and shooting from awkward angles.
🎯 Key Insight: Muscle memory isn’t just for your weapon—it’s for your entire shooting routine.
🌬️ 3. Scent Control Habits Start Now
You can’t eliminate all human scent, but you can reduce it—and it starts before the season.
- Switch to scent-free detergents and soaps for your clothes and body.
- Store hunting clothing in airtight containers with leaves, dirt, or carbon-lined bags.
- Practice wind discipline during summer scouting so it’s second nature by fall.
🎯 Pro Tip: Early scent control habits make opening day setups stealthier and more confident.
🗺️ 4. Map Out Access and Stand Locations
Hunting success often hinges on how you enter and exit your setups.
- Use summer scouting (glassing, trail cameras, boots on the ground) to mark bedding areas, food sources, and travel corridors.
- Plan multiple stand locations for different wind directions.
- Trim shooting lanes now, before deer go on high alert in September.
🎯 Key Insight: Summer prep reduces noise and disturbance during the critical days leading up to opening morning.
🧠 5. Train Your Mind, Too
Mental toughness is as important as physical conditioning.
- Practice patience by sitting for long periods—even in the heat—so you’re ready for long hours on stand.
- Visualize encounters with deer: drawing smoothly, staying calm, and making ethical shots.
- Study deer behavior for your area so you can anticipate their movement when conditions change.
🎯 Key Insight: Success comes from being calm and collected in the moment—mental reps matter as much as physical ones.
🎒 6. Gear Check: Don’t Wait Until September
✅ Must-Do Summer Checks
- Inspect tree stands and climbing sticks for wear or rust.
- Replace worn straps and check safety harnesses.
- Test boots for leaks or blisters; break in any new footwear now.
- Check rangefinders, optics, and electronics (fresh batteries!).
🎯 Pro Tip: Create a preseason checklist so nothing gets overlooked.
🏆 Final Thoughts: Put in the Work, Reap the Rewards
The hunters who succeed in September didn’t get lucky—they earned it with disciplined preseason preparation. By focusing on your body, your weapon, your gear, and your strategy now, you’ll enter the woods confident, capable, and ready to make the most of every opportunity.
This summer, sweat the details. When that buck steps out on opening morning, you’ll be glad you did.
